Bitmap Image Programs

Bitmap graphics are the primary form of graphics on the Web, and having a program
that creates and optimizes them is essential. Bitmap graphics, also referred to
as raster graphics, are graphics where the image is made up of tiny boxes of color,
known as pixels. Pixel-based graphics typically can be compressed very well, but

do not scale well because data becomes lost as you attempt to enlarge a pixel-based
image.One thing that’s no secret is how ubiquitous Photoshop is for Windows and Macintosh
users.


For Macintosh and Windows, Macromedia Fireworks (shown in Figure 1-14) is a
very popular bitmap imaging program, and JASC’s Paint Shop Pro has a certain
cult-like following among Windows-based Web design enthusiasts. Corel offers
a complete drawing program with its Draw suite, but its use seems very limited
among people working on the Web.

A surprise for bitmap imaging needs is The Gimp. The Gimp stands for “GNU
Image Manipulation Program’’ and is an open source bitmap drawing software
program that works on UNIX and related systems, as well as having versions for
the Macintosh and Windows


The Linux and Windows versions of Gimp are freely distributed. You can also run
Gimp under OSX for free, although the MacGimp version runs around $20 to
download (a far cry from the hundreds to even thousands of dollars other bitmapping
programs will cost you).